Kuwait University
Kuwait City
The new 490-hectare (1211-acre) Kuwait University - Sabah Al-Salem University City will consolidate six different campuses currently dispersed throughout Kuwait City. PageSoutherlandPage is providing programming and design for three colleges, a faculty club and a prayer center totaling 175,196 gross square meters (1.9 million square feet), with an additional 64,000 gross square meters (690,000 square feet) of underground staff parking and services.
The Faculty Club, located in the lush garden oasis running through the center of campus, provides an inviting setting in which professors can meet and relax. The 74,000-gross-square-meter (800,000 square foot) College of Social Sciences houses eight academic departments ranging from psychology to geography. The large circular volumes at the entrances have been designed to express the community and inclusive aspects of the college. The College of Shari'a and Islamic Studies conveys the Dean's vision for transparency and modernity. Within its 43,000 gross square meters (463,000 square feet) are five departments, financial and Qoranic clinics, as well as special comprehensive libraries. The 54,000-gross-square-meter (581,000 square foot) College of Law is stately with its modern interpretation of a courthouse. The college contains six departments, moot courtrooms, law libraries and central food courts along with the Arab Regional Center for Environmental Law.
Each of the colleges is supported by administrative departments, research spaces, common building services, special facilities and engaging spaces dedicated to student activities. All three colleges will offer state-of-the-art audio visual instructional facilities with distance learning.
The buildings have been designed to achieve Silver LEED certification by incorporating elaborate sunscreens that offer protection from the harsh Kuwaiti climate, photovoltaic solar panels, solar hot water heaters, super efficient mechanical systems, sustainable materials and many additional features. PageSoutherlandPage is working in association with Saleh Al Qallaf Engineering Consultants on the Kuwait University projects, which are expected to be completed in 2014.